After playing out 50,000 NFL playoff simulations, and compiling the data from those virtual scenarios, the site determined that the Broncos have a 26.2 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl — the best percentage among playoff teams. New England is No. 2 at 24.3 percent.

Ronnie Hillman was born in Long Beach, Calif., and played high school football in nearby Orange County. So the Broncos rookie running back can be forgiven if he’s shivering through the current cold snap in Denver.

Apparently, the former San Diego State standout did not acclimate to Front Range weather conditions during college road trips to Mountain West schools such as Air Force, Colorado State and Wyoming.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday for his weekly presser, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning offered an endorsement of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who is being considered for head-coaching positions by Buffalo, Arizona, Chicago and perhaps others.

“I think he’s ready; I think he’s paid his dues,” Manning said of McCoy, 40, “Mike’s a good leader. He’s had some good coaches that have been mentors to him, different coaches that he’s worked with in his years in the NFL that I think he’s incorporated some of their leadership philosophies and his own philosophy.

“I tell you, he’s a worker. We spend a lot of hours together — early mornings, late nights — trying to get kind of our plan in place for what kind of offense we were going to be. There is no substitute for work ethic, and Mike certainly has that. … In my opinion, he deserves a shot at one of these head coaching jobs.”

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.